Lummis say no coal port here

[pscot]

The Tribe has a lot of leverage. They're rich and they have good lawyers. Good slide show at the link

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/08/02/lummi-indians-to-feds-no-coal-port-here/

The Lummi Indian Nation has formally informed the federal government of its “unconditional and unequivocal opposition” to the proposed Gateway Pacific coal export terminal, which would be located at Cherry Point in Whatcom County, just north of the Lummi Reservation.

Opposition from the Lummis, in a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, puts significant new issues on the table for a lightning rod project. Gateway Pacific faces opposition from Puget Sound mayors (including Mike McGinn), King County Executive Dow Constantine, state legislators, environmental and climate groups and other Indian tribes.

The coal port needs permits from the Corps of Engineers to proceed. In his letter, tribal business council chair Tim Ballew stated:

“Review of the known facts, data, site plans and the development and operational goals of the projects have resulted in a clear and convincing conclusion that the proposed projects, if built and operated, would have a substantial impairment on the Lummi treaty fishing right harvest at XweChiexen (Cherry Point) and thoughout the Lummi ‘usual and accustomed’ fishing areas

[limpyhobbler]

1. Good for them for saying no to these these vile, hideous coal exports

Hopefully we can raise the issue of coal exports as a big issue.

Similar to how awareness was raised about Keystone XL.

[pscot]

2. The initial plan was for 6 coal ports

If the Tribe stops this one, I think there may be only 2 viable options left, one on the Columbia and one at Longview.